25 Additional Business Owners Complete Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses-Greater Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16, 2014—Twenty-five additional entrepreneurs will graduate from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses-Greater Philadelphia program on December 20 adding to the growing number of small business in this region impacted by the national program.

The new graduates will gather with families and friends for a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in room C2-28 of the Center for Business and Industry at 1751 Callowhill Street. Dr. Donald Generals, president at the College; Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger; and Matt Cabrey, executive director of Select Greater Philadelphia and senior vice president of regional business marketing for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, are among those who will speak. Robert Napoletano, of Springfield Pasta Company in Springfield, Pa, will address the audience as a member of the graduating class and alumni will welcome the graduates into the program’s strong alumni network.

Greater Philadelphia’s program has graduated 135 business owners since it began in 2013. From January through December 2014, 112 entrepreneurs from up-and-coming businesses finished the course work. The majority of these business owners have formed a strong network. Just this week, three are celebrating their move into shared space in the Navy Yard, which is a campus designed for business growth. Several others are in the midst of launching new spaces to support the growth plans created through the program.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is an investment to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing greater access to education, capital and business support services. The program is based on the broadly held view of leading experts that greater access to this combination of education, capital and support services best addresses barriers to growth for small businesses. Goldman Sachs and the Goldman Sachs Foundation are committing $20 million to the program in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Applications for 10,000 Small Businesses are accepted on a rolling basis at Community College of Philadelphia, with February 2 as the deadline to apply for the next cohort. The program is open to business owners from across the Greater Philadelphia region. For more information and an application, visit www.ccp.edu/10KSB.

Contacts: Linda Wallace 215-751-8082, liswallace@ccp.edu
Naomi Hall 215-751-8021, nhall@ccp.edu